What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dipropylene Glycol
HumectantGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Hydroxyethyl Urea
Humectant
Diethoxyethyl Succinate
SolventHydroxyacetophenone
Antioxidant
Caprylyl Glycol
Emollient
Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate
Skin Conditioning
Betaine
Humectant
Panthenol
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGluconolactone
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Polyacrylate
Absorbent
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer
Sodium Citrate
BufferingCitric Acid
Buffering
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningDipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidant
Pantolactone
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Exfoliating
Tranexamic Acid
Astringent
Tremella Fuciformis Extract
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Antioxidant
Ubiquinone
Antioxidant
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Emulsifying
Magnesium Chloride
Alcohol
Antimicrobial
Glutathione
Polysorbate 80
Emulsifying
Calcium Gluconate
HumectantPyridoxine Hcl
Skin ConditioningBHT
Antioxidant
Yeast Extract
Skin ConditioningCyanocobalamin
Skin ConditioningDisodium EDTA
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Betaine, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Gluconolactone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Pantolactone, Tocopherol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ubiquinone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Magnesium Chloride, Alcohol, Glutathione, Polysorbate 80, Calcium Gluconate, Pyridoxine Hcl, BHT, Yeast Extract, Cyanocobalamin, Disodium EDTA
Water
Skin ConditioningLactic Acid
Buffering
Glycerin
Humectant
Hamamelis Virginiana Water
Astringent
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
Humectant
Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate
Humectant
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract
Astringent
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Emulsifying
Parfum
Masking
Allantoin
Skin Conditioning
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningDehydroacetic Acid
Preservative
Cetrimonium Bromide
Antimicrobial
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingPhenoxyethanol
Preservative
Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Hamamelis Virginiana Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract, Pentylene Glycol, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Parfum, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Cetrimonium Bromide, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Ethylhexylglycerin is created from glycerin. It is a multitasker ingredient that:
The CIR Expert Panel found minimal skin absorption or sensitization of any kind in a safety assessment. Though this ingredient is considered well-tolerated, a small number of cases of allergic dermatitis have been published since 2002. Just be sure to patch test if you are unsure.
Industry-reported use ranges from 8% in rinse-off products and 2% in leave-on formulations.
Learn more about EthylhexylglycerinGlycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
